The Sigma 17-40mm F1.8 DC Art is a zoom for Sony's APS-C cameras that is bright enough to stand in for a bag of primes. It covers a 25.5-60mm equivalent range and holds F1.8 at every focal length, which is more than a stop brighter than any F2.8 zoom. On an a6700, FX30 or ZV-E10 II it gives the low-light performance and shallow depth of field you would normally need a 24mm, 35mm and 50mm prime to get.
Image quality
Inside are 17 elements in 11 groups, including four SLD and four aspherical elements, which keep it sharp and free of obvious colour fringing at F1.8 across the whole range. An 11-blade rounded aperture gives smooth, round background highlights, and the front element has a water- and oil-repellent coating that makes it easier to wipe clean.
Built for video
The zoom is internal, so the lens stays the same length and the balance does not shift, which makes it easy to set up on a gimbal once and leave. Focus breathing is kept low, so the framing barely changes during a focus pull. Sigma's HLA linear motor drives autofocus quickly and quietly and works with Sony's real-time tracking and Eye AF.
Handling
Two AFL buttons sit on the barrel, so there is one under your thumb whether you hold the camera in landscape or portrait. They can be assigned to functions in the camera menu. The lens is dust- and splash-resistant and takes 67mm filters.
Who it's for
This is for Sony APS-C shooters, and especially FX30 and a6700 video users, who want one lens that covers most of a shoot at F1.8. It is a much bigger lens than the Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 at 535g and 115.9mm long, so if you want the camera to stay small the 18-50mm is the better buy. The lens has no optical stabilisation, so on bodies without in-body stabilisation, such as the ZV-E10 II, handheld video relies on the camera's electronic stabilisation.
Also available for Canon RF, Fujifilm X and L-Mount.
Facebook
X / Twitter
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email
